Social program cuts would devastate

Wednesday

Feb 9, 2011 at 12:17 AM

The fiscal 2012 budget recommends the most drastic cuts to the Early Intervention program in its 30-year history. Early Intervention provides services to children from birth to age 3 who have disabilities or developmental delays. The governorís budget delivers a one-two punch. First, it slashes funding for Early Intervention by 27 percent, the lowest funding in 10 years. Second, his administration is proposing to strip parents of their rights to services under the federal law (Part C of IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). The administration is planning on dismantling the current Early Intervention system, and replacing it with a system that will be subject to the funding whims of the time. Infants and toddlers cannot wait. The impact on families and their children will be devastating. The governorís funding level could jeopardize services for as many as one in two children, or 15,000 children statewide. Scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that intervening early, in the first three years of a childís life, is essential. Early Intervention saves the state over $20 million a year in school special education costs. From an economic standpoint, cutting Early Intervention makes no sense, and will cost the state significantly more.

Contact the governorís office and let him know your thoughts on this issue. Contact area legislators and ask them to preserve Early Intervention in their budget.

ROBIN WEBBER

Program Director

Kennedy Donovan Center

Southbridge

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